The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-07-27
Tribune Fresh Air Children.


-Brattleboro Cor New York
Tribune July -
Last Thursday was "Children's day" at
the Norwich boat line, Watts street New
York, for the wharf swarmed with children
and the decks of the " City of Worcester "
were crowded. Boys hung with daring far
over the sides of the boat, girls made the
saloons ring with their laughter and the
floors shook with the ceaseless tramp of
their feet. A stranger might have wondered,
as one venerable passenger did, where the
mothers and fathers of this merry crowd
We're hidden. Everything was clear enough
when it was explained that the large crowd
of little ones composed the Tribune fresh
air party of 135 on their way to Vermont
and New Hampshire for two weeks outing.
The Getty of Worcester" was completely
under the control of the fresh-airs." AL
though they were not actually concerned in
the navigation of the vessel, they crowded
the decks, usurped the points of advantage,
monopolized the seating capacity of the
saloons and romped and played as if the
ships deck were background. Although
they amused the passengers, they were a
source of terror and dismay to the ships
officers and crew, and from the beginning
to the end of the trip they remained the OBJ
jects of interest to everyone on the ship.
The ordinarily large sleeping accommoda-
tons of the boat were Inadequate for the
fresh-ar demand. The main saloon was
converted into a bedroom, and at nine
o'clock the order for retiring was given.
Several ladies who were passengers on the
boat volunteered their services in preparing
the children for bed. At five o'clock on
Friday morning the large party filed out
from the boat and took places on the New
London Northern train for their destinations
among the green hills of Vermont and New
Hampshire All along the route the chill
dren made their presence known, and at
every station their shouting and cheers at
tracted a crowd, who gazed upon the
" fresh-airs as if they We're children from
another world. The first break in the party
was made at South Vernon, VT, where
seven children were placed in charge of the
gentlemen who We're to convey them in a
wagon to Hinsdale, n. H., few miles dis
tant. The remaining children We're placed
under the charge of w. II. Fuller, general
secretary of the Young Mems Christian
Association of Brattleboro, Vt, who has
been an active and efficient worker in the
fresh-air cause. 1t is through Mr. Fuller's
interchangeable efforts that entertainment has
been secured for such large number of
children in the region around Brattleboro.
For four years this portion of New England
has received the freSh-air children, and the
record this year promises to be unusually
large. AS soon as the train stopped at
Brattleboro the children were surrounded
by friends anxious TO render comfort and
assistance. SiXty-three members of the
party left the train at this point while the
remainder, under the direction of Mr..
Fuller, Walter Thompson and Mrs. w. f.
Seleck, continued the journey northward.
a parade was formed at the Bratte-
boro depot. The sidewalks Were lined
with spectators and people collected from
all sides to witness the fresh-air parade.
The children We're immensely hattered
by the marks of attention they received
and responded to all inquiries with de-
cisive shouts and choruses. At the rooms
of the Young Mems Christian Association
carriages We're waiting for the party of
twenty-three bound for Wilmington, VT,
and after each boy and girl had been sup
piled with substantial lunches, due to the
kindly forethought of some ladies of the
town, they were placed under the charge of
Mr. Fitch of Wilmington, and were soon on
their way to that village, twenty miles dis
tant over the hills. The forty-odd children
remaining were taken to " Brooks Park, a
delightful Enclosure overlooking the town,
which had been given over to the children
by the proprietor, +. ID. Goodhue An ex-
cellent dinner, prepared by Mrs. Fuller and
several ladies of the town, was spread for
the hungry children, who demonstrated
their appreciation of Brattleboro hospitality
By leaving nothing untouched except the
table furniture. Swings and hammocks We're
placed in position for the children, and the
pleasures of rolling down the hill were en-
joyed by the children for many hours. "The
freSh-alr camp received many visitors
during the afternoon and much interest was
manifested in the city children. One benevo-
lent gentleman was so impressed with the
youngsters that he presented each boy and
girl with nice handkerchief. The children
entertained the visitors with songs, inter-
spersed with their peculiar antics, and the
grove fairly echoed all the afternoon to
Moody and Sankey tunes, which alternated
with the popular ballads, " Stick to Your
Mother, Tom White Wings" etc,
Late in the afternoon the procession filed
back again through the quiet streets of the
town and the children boarded the narrow
gauge train on the Brattleboro x White
hall railroad AT six o'clock this party,
under the charge of w ii. Fuller, left the
town, and group after group was dropped
| off at Charlestown, Williamsville, Jamaica
and other places, until the last party of
eight was left in the care of the hospitable
the large party of over sixty We're continu-
ing their journey northward on the Yer
mont Valley railroad, and as groups of a
dozen or so were left at Westminster and
Charlestown, to take stages for Walpole and
| Acworth, and at Claremont and st. Johns
| bury, the party soon dwindled into meagre
| portions, and only fourteen We're left to pur-
sue the trip to the extreme destin alton at
| Newport. at the foot of Lake Memphremagog.
| At this point stages conveyed the tired chill
! dren to Westeld, W.T. and after short
| ride the final destination of this large party
of fresh-air children had ceased. The en-
! tire party of one hundred thirty-fve will re.
| turn to their homes in Brooklyn and New
| York at the expiration of two weeks.